It sure seemed like he liked his buddy a lot more than just "friends." The way he looked at him, and the way he would touch him and what not on the basketball court. Seemed like the kid liked boys, or was unsure of what he really liked. He told the fish lady, "something is wrong with me." Makes you wonder...
You're a married man, are you, Mr. Grady? Yes, sir. I have a wife and eh two daughters, sir.
That was the impression that I got; it was pretty heavily implied.
Screws fall out all of the time. The world's an imperfect place.
I was waiting for it the entire movie. Adam was clearly dealing with something in his head the whole time. He wasn't really into sports our roughhousing, kept to himself around the two boys yet would open right up with his female friend, looked longingly at Riley, got jealous when Riley shacked up with his gal pal & then said "You have me" when Riley said he'd lost everyone. You could also tell he felt something when Riley chose to give him the stuffed animal at the arcade. I was totally waiting for Adam to put the moves on Riley at the end there, but it never happened. Anyway, the kid who played Adam nailed everything about growing up gay, so hopefully that's what they were aiming for. If it wasn't then I'd be both shocked and puzzled.
Update: I've watched a few interviews with the director on YouTube now, and never once has Adam's sexual orientation been brought up. Also, if you read the description for the 2014 short film by the same name, it says Adam was straight:
"Fourteen-year-old Adam is spending the summer in a small beach community on the North shore of Lake Superior. His dull summer routine shatters when he meets local boys Foster and Rizzo, two smart alecks who fill their long days with adventures and reckless stunting. When Adam learns he is competing with Foster for the affection of his crush, Taylor, he is drawn into a dark and unfamiliar world which leads the boys to the top of the infamous Todd's Cliff."
If Adam was indeed straight then I'm very confused as to why many of the film's scenes were shot the way they were.
Yeah, I agree - it was very, VERY heavily implied that he was gay and had a massive crush on Riley. In fact I would say that it was one of the major plot points in the movie.
shareI never thought Adam was gay but I did think he had a crush, in the same way young teenage girls have crushes on each other. Straight teens may very well think that there's something wrong with them when this happens. Statistics report that young gay men realize long before the age of puberty which way they swing, which is often between five to seven years of age. Thus by the time they hit their teens they rarely experience conflict over their sexual identity. Adam's uneasiness had more to do with finding himself and that voyage often begins by studying/admiring people we wish we were like. I totally agree with posters who said Adam wanted to be alone with his crush, and was willing to whatever necessary to accomplish this, whether consciously or subconsciously. I don't think it ever had to do with sexual gratification. Adam is the same way as anyone who sets their mind on a goal and fulfills it by fair means or foul
share"Statistics report that young gay men realize long before the age of puberty which way they swing, which is often between five to seven years of age. Thus by the time they hit their teens they rarely experience conflict over their sexual identity."
I definitely disagree with you there. I'm gay…I knew I was attracted to my male friends as young as second grade, and it didn't make being a teenager any easier. Especially in the '90s, when being gay was still something you did NOT talk about. At least not where I was raised. I remember being in seventh grade and thinking I was the only one in the world like this (there was no internet yet & there were no gays on television) and it was very scary. I identified with Adam's character 100% in this film, which is why I'd be so incredibly confused if he wasn't supposed to be gay.
Wasn't Adam trying to whack off to the stripping lady in the telescope but couldn't get it hard??
shareExactly this. Even though at that age it still might not necessarily mean he's straight. I think the "whacking off" and making a pass at the fish lady has more to do with teenage boy confusion due to the situation with his dad. (Trying not to reveal spoilers).
Personally, I think Adam was straight. He just happens to be a more sensitive, sheltered and introverted guy, who clearly saw aspects of Riley that he wanted to be like.
In their last "play wrestling" fight its was pretty obvious he was gay from then on
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